IPSTDS Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Because Seo Dowoong was the only thing Yoon Noah, who had everything he ever wanted, could never have. That was why he had no choice but to obsess over him.

On the other hand, Nahyuk had never possessed anything he truly desired, unlike Yoon Noah.

Since he had never had anything, he didn’t even know how to long for something beyond his reach.

No, even just wishing for something felt reckless to him.

That was why he couldn’t desire Seo Dowoong.

That man was, at a glance, someone far beyond his reach.

Perhaps because he was reminded of the circumstances of his original body, which he had forgotten for a while, a deep gloom suddenly washed over him.

With a face that looked like he was about to cry, Nahyuk withdrew his gaze from Seo Dowoong.

What he met next was the sharp, three-lidded gaze of Lee Kangil, staring at him with amusement.

“The wildcat seems more interested in this side than in me.”

It seemed Lee Kangil had been carefully observing both him and Seo Dowoong.

The snake-like eyes that met his were strikingly intense.

With a sigh-laden voice, Nahyuk responded,

“I don’t know the person standing next to you, Mr. Lee Kangil.”

At the very least, that wasn’t a lie. After all, he wasn’t the real Yoon Noah.

“Seo Dowoong, Yoon Noah says he doesn’t know you.”

“Shut up, Lee Kangil.”

Lee Kangil chuckled as he watched Seo Dowoong, who, for some reason, looked annoyed.

What was so amusing to him? Here he was, desperate for the experimental drug, while Kangil found this all entertaining.

Nahyuk didn’t want to prolong this uncomfortable three-way conversation any further.

Seo Dowoong clearly disliked him, so it seemed best to leave with Lee Kangil.

Nahyuk tugged at Kangil’s jacket as if it were his lifeline.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could we talk alone?”

Lee Kangil, wearing a smirk that seemed almost wicked, turned his gaze to Seo Dowoong once again.

He didn’t say much, but his expression made it seem like he was asking for permission—seeking Seo Dowoong’s approval to leave with Nahyuk.

Seo Dowoong let out an irritated sigh.

“Both of you, get lost.”

“Alright, then we’ll get lost.”

“…What?”

Seo Dowoong looked dumbfounded at Nahyuk’s straightforward response, while Lee Kangil finally burst into laughter.

After laughing for a good while, Kangil casually slung an arm around Nahyuk’s shoulders and declared triumphantly,

“Don’t be too upset, friend.”

Seo Dowoong didn’t respond.

Nahyuk simply let himself be pulled along by Lee Kangil.

The whole time, he could feel Seo Dowoong’s sharp gaze piercing into his back.

That couldn’t be right. Seo Dowoong wouldn’t possibly want him to turn around… would he?

But Nahyuk didn’t look back.

Lee Kangil’s scent, his breath, his slightly higher body temperature—all of it was already overwhelming.

He didn’t have the luxury to focus on anything else.

His heart began to beat in an unfamiliar rhythm, pounding erratically in his chest.

Was it because he was walking too fast?

Or… was it because of this man?

---

Lee Kangil walked into the Taekwang Hotel as if it were his own, moving naturally all the way to the top floor.

Having barely ever set foot in such a place, Lee Nahyuk followed behind him hesitantly.

He only wanted to talk, so was there really a need to go all the way up to a hotel room?

Before long, Lee Kangil stopped in front of a door and nodded toward it.

“Open it.”

Like an idiot, Nahyuk blinked and asked,

“…What?”

“This is your hotel, isn’t it? I know you have the master key.”

The master key. Nahyuk hesitated for a moment before rummaging through Yoon Noah’s wallet, which he had brought along just in case.

Fortunately, a card that looked like a master key caught his eye.

Feeling uncertain, Nahyuk swiped it through the lock. The door clicked open immediately.

‘Nothing’s going to happen… right?’

But then again, he realized—even if something did happen, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

Nahyuk ran his tongue over his dry lips.

He still couldn’t forget that brief but intense kiss with Kangil.

And at this moment, he thought—maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if they did something more than just kissing.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, Lee Kangil’s hand suddenly gripped his wrist tightly.

“L-Lee Kangil…”

With surprising strength, Kangil pulled him forward and practically threw him onto the bed.

Nahyuk barely had time to blink in shock before he realized—Lee Kangil was already on top of him.

From this angle, looking up at him, Lee Kangil’s face looked incredibly seductive.

Nahyuk had the sudden urge to touch the strands of hair that had fallen slightly over Kangil’s forehead.

His heart pounded even faster than before.

Alone in a hotel room, pinned under an insanely handsome man…

It wasn’t the worst situation.

“I don’t know what kind of act you’re putting on. But I don’t mind hearing you speak so formally.”

“I, I just…”

“I also liked how you pretended not to know Seo Dowoong and only looked at me.”

That wasn’t an act—he really didn’t know Seo Dowoong. And, honestly, he was too scared to.

The memory of Seo Dowoong’s icy glare, colder than a glacier in midwinter, made Nahyuk’s shoulders shrink.

Compared to that chilling man, the mischievous Lee Kangil was much easier to handle.

“So even the great Yoon Noah doesn’t want to die that badly, huh?”

“I don’t want to die.”

For the first time, Nahyuk could answer with certainty.

He wanted to enjoy life in Yoon Noah’s body, where he had freedom and luxury.

“But what should I do? I don’t like giving people what they want so easily.”

Was he going to make him kiss him again? If that was the case, Nahyuk would gladly welcome it…

He fidgeted with his lips, unconsciously anticipating another kiss.

“……”

And Kangil didn’t miss that little movement.

‘Yoon Noah. Shrinking your shoulders and now hiding your lips? Guess you really don’t want to kiss me.’

But instead of sympathy, what Kangil felt was something much darker—his sadistic instincts flaring up.

Strangely, seeing Yoon Noah act more like a small prey animal than his usual arrogant self… it turned him on.

Maybe it had started when this so-called wildcat, who had always followed Seo Dowoong like a lost duckling, suddenly turned all his attention toward him.

The moment Seo Dowoong, who had always been disgusted by Yoon Noah, got irritated at being ignored, Kangil had felt a rush of euphoria.

‘This cunning little thing. He’s throwing away his so-called love just to get his hands on the drug.’

Before he knew it, he had dragged Yoon Noah all the way to a hotel room.

It wasn’t that he wanted to sleep with him. He was just curious—how much more cunning could this wildcat get?

But now, with Yoon Noah pinned beneath him, the idea of spending a long, intimate night together didn’t seem so bad.

His tear-filled eyes, flushed red, had an erotic charm to them.

His tousled hair, his breathy, uneven gasps—everything about him was alluring.

Kangil had never thought of himself as someone into wildcats.

Yet, he found himself wondering what lay beneath Yoon Noah’s shirt.

How pale and smooth his skin might be beneath that perfectly defined collarbone.

A thirst—one he couldn’t explain—rose inside him.

It was the same eerie sensation he’d felt at the wedding reception the other night.

“…Yoon Noah.”

His voice had dropped even lower than before.

“…Yes?”

“Do you remember the time you stripped in front of me?”

Nahyuk quickly racked his brain, searching through the details of The Withering Flower.

Now that he thought about it, there was a scene in the novel where Yoon Noah had unbuttoned his shirt in front of Kangil, trying to seduce him.

But it wasn’t because he was attracted to him—he had just wanted someone to take care of him while he was drunk.

That must have been what Kangil was referring to.

“I… think I remember.”

“Why don’t you try seducing me again? Make me want to give you the drug.”

“I… seduce you…?”

How was he supposed to do that? Nahyuk had no idea how to seduce someone.

He had never dated before, so the request felt impossible.

While he hesitated, unsure of what to say, Kangil spoke again.

“Go ahead.”

“……”

“I got hard back then.”

Nahyuk inhaled sharply.

His cheeks burned even hotter than before.

His eyes, which had been wandering over Kangil’s face, kept wanting to drift downward.

And it was all because of what Kangil had just said.

‘I got hard back then.’

Nahyuk found himself wondering about Kangil’s current state—was he reacting to this situation? Did he respond to men as well?

But what was he planning to do after checking? Did he really want to spend the night with a man he barely knew?

Then again, if it was for the experimental drug… spending a night with Lee Kangil might not be the worst idea.

…Of course, it had nothing to do with wanting to have a passionate night with an attractive man.

To emphasize—it was only for the drug.

“Where are you looking?”

It seemed Kangil had caught him staring downward.

With his thumb and forefinger, Kangil grabbed Nahyuk’s flushed cheek, firmly tilting his face up so he couldn’t look away.

“I told you to seduce me. That didn’t mean staring at that.”

So embarrassing. Nahyuk desperately tried to avoid Kangil’s heated gaze.

“If you’re that curious, I could show you.”

“R-really?”

…Why did he answer so quickly?

It felt as if he had just admitted he wanted to see it. Mortification washed over him.

“But before that—why don’t you show me yours first?”

Kangil’s free hand moved, reaching for Nahyuk’s shirt. Slowly, he began undoing the buttons.

Cool air seeped in as the fabric parted, making Nahyuk shudder.

Only his upper chest was exposed, and yet his entire body erupted in goosebumps.

Kangil’s gaze dropped lower.

It was a leisurely, almost indulgent stare—dragging over his neck, collarbone, and the smooth skin of his chest.

Everywhere his eyes touched, it felt like a burn. Nahyuk’s senses were becoming far too sensitive.

By the time he realized it… their bodies had already pressed together, the undeniable evidence of their tension meeting between them.